Sunday, 04 April 2010
I rode across Cambridge in light drizzle to find four other riders waiting at Brookside for the 9am start of today's day ride. Mick was our leader today, and took us on a relatively direct route to our coffee stop in Reed. We headed down Trumpington Road before cutting across to Addenbrooke's where we picked up the DNA path to Great Shelford. From there we followed the minor road that led first to Little Shelford and then to Whittlesford. The first few miles were quite cold, but the drizzle soon stopped and the day became brighter after a while.
Just north of Whittlesford we turned right and looped back north to Newton where we picked up the B1368, which we followed all the way to Barkway.
At Barkway we turned right for the final few miles to Reed, and our coffee stop at the Silver Ball cafe.
Outside the cafe we found two other members, making a total of seven at coffee.
The Silver Ball cafe is an old favourite for local cyclists and motorcyclists, with a group from Cambridge Cycling Club already tucking into a late breakfast. I ordered a mug of coffee and a large plate of beans on toast, which together cost a very reasonable £3.20; it was delivered quickly and efficiently. I'm pleased to report that the owners are currently in the process of reconstructing the toilets, which were rather squalid and inadequate before.
After coffee the main group continued to lunch at Church Farm, Ardeley near Stevenage, whilst I returned to Cambridge via Thirlfield, Litlington and Kneesworth. I was home just after 1pm, having ridden
44 miles.
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